Wild relatives of cultivars are crucial sources of genetic variation for further enhancement, yet they face potential threats due to contemporary environmental changes. Iris ensata var. spontanea , a wild progenitor of the Japanese iris cultivars ( I. ensata var. ensata ), is extensively cultivated in Japanese gardens, is distributed across mesic meadows and wetlands in Japan and East Asia. This species is currently threatened...

An undersowing system with additional intercropping of flowering plants was assessed in field trials in Germany and Japan to estimate regulating effects on pests and possible negative effects on white cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. capitata ). In particular, we tested cabbage undersown with wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and cabbage undersown with wheat plus additional sweet alyssum ( Lobularia maritima L. Desv.) intercroppin...

Summary Chemolithoautotrophic bacteria from the genera Hydrogenovibrio, Thiomicrorhabdus and Thiomicrospira are common, sometimes dominant, isolates from sulfidic habitats including hydrothermal vents, soda and salt lakes and marine sediments. Their genome sequences confirm their membership in a deeply branching clade of the Gammaproteobacteria . Several adaptations to heterogeneous habitats are apparent. Their genomes include...